PET TERMINOLOGY
What does PSA stand for?
Prostate-specific antigen.
Why are clinicals required for PET exams?
To determine medical necessity and whether the exam meets insurance guidelines.
What type of contrast is used with CT imaging?
Iodine.
What should you verify when reviewing the PET order?
Verify what PET exam and tracer were ordered by the physician.
How early may a patient need to arrive for their PET appointment, depending on the region?
45 minutes or 1 hour and 45 minutes early.
What is a biopsy?
A medical procedure that removes tissue or cells from the body to determine malignancy.
What should you do if prior imaging was completed outside of RadNet?
Document the exam type along with when and where the prior imaging was completed so it can be obtained for the radiologist's review.
What type of contrast is used with MRI?
Gadolinium.
A patient requests an earlier PET appointment than what is currently available. What should you do?
Schedule the first available appointment and add a Sooner Appointment Request alert.
If a diabetic patient is scheduled in the afternoon, what can they do?
They may eat and take their insulin up to 6 hours before their appointment.
What does “re-staging” refer to?
Cancer that may have returned or determining how the cancer responded to cancer treatments.
Why does the radiologist review a patient's priors?
To compare them with the current PET imaging, which helps determine an accurate diagnosis for further treatment.
What two MRI CPT codes can be used for a PET/MR brain scan and what does each indicate?
70551 (without contrast) and 70553 (with and without contrast).
What does the PET intake form first ask you to verify?
That all necessary documentation is on file, including the order, authorization, clinicals, pathology, and relevant prior imaging/report.
What type of diet must a patient start 24 hrs before their appointment?
A low carbohydrates diet.
What is BCR, or biochemical recurrence?
PSA levels that continue to rise after the initial staging and re-staging of prostate cancer.
What should you verify before moving forward with the PET intake form?
Verify that the required documentation is on file, including the order, authorization, clinicals, pathology when applicable, and relevant prior imaging/report.
What two eRad procedure codes can be used to quickly search for PET/MR brain studies and what do they indicate?
PTMR18 (with and without contrast) and PTMR19 (without contrast)
A patient needs both a PET and a non-PET exam on the same day. Which exam should be scheduled first?
The non-PET exam should be scheduled first, followed by the PET.
What happens when a patient is diabetic?
The patient receives modified/diabetic-specific preparation instructions instead of the standard prep.
What is the difference between initial staging and re-staging?
Initial staging refers to a positive pathology report when the patient has not yet had treatment. Re-staging refers to cancer that may have returned or evaluating how the cancer responded to treatment.
The insurance digital form says a patient may schedule. What form comes next, and what does it help confirm?
The PET Scheduling Guidance form. It confirms that the appropriate exam has been ordered and authorized and provides the applicable scheduling timelines
A PET/CT is ordered with CT contrast. What additional tracer/contrast CPT codes need to be authorized?
A9552 for FDG and Q9967 for iodine contrast.
A patient calls to cancel their PET appointment for tomorrow. What should you do immediately, and why?
Escalate to the site immediately so they have as much time as possible to cancel the tracer dose.
How long must a patient fast prior to their exam when receiving the standard prep instructions?
6 hours.